“…Israel is to allow construction materials to enter Gaza from next week for the first time since 2007. Despite easing its blockade of the enclave two and a half years ago, it has continued to ban the import of almost all construction materials, such as cement and steel, saying they could be used for military purposes.”

First, note that the two sentences oddly contradict each other. The first sentence claims that Israel is going to allow construction materials for the first time since 2007. The second sentence (modifying the first) suggests that some “construction material” has indeed been allowed to pass through – at least since 2010.

As we demonstrated in our post, while even the second sentence is extraordinarily misleading – ignoringinformation on the thousands of tons of construction material which has passed into Gaza, and the hundreds of building projects completed in conjunction with international sponsors in the two-year period Sherwood is referring to – the first sentence is simply false.

However, it now seems likely that Sherwood’s first sentence – about construction materials now being allowed in to Gaza for the first time since 2007 – was at least based on recent announcements on an easing of Israel’s blockade under the terms of the Egyptian brokered truce deal with Hamas.

“Israel is to begin allowing materials for private construction into Gaza, easing its blockade under the terms of a truce deal, Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Wednesday.

The decision will allow private companies and individuals to import construction materials that were previously restricted exclusively to international aid groups under the terms of Israel’s blockade.”

The report then quotes a Palestinian official, thus:

“This is the first time Israel will allow the import of gravel for the private sector since the blockade began in mid-2007.”

So, the change in Israeli policy will now allow, for the first time since Hamas took over Gaza in a violent coup in 2007, private companies and individuals to import construction materials into the territory.

Moreover, what’s especially interesting about the inaccurate Guardian report on Israel’s change in policy is the fact other Arab media outlets got the story right.

“Israel is easing its blockade of Gaza to allow construction materials and other goods into the enclave under the terms of a truce deal mediated by Egypt.

The decision allows [for the first time since 2007] private companies and individuals to import construction materials that were previously restricted exclusively to international aid groups under the terms of Israel’s blockade, AFP reported.

“Israel will allow 20 trucks a day loaded with construction material to enter the Gaza Strip starting next week, in an attempt to ease its blockade under the terms of a truce deal signed with an Egyptian-mediation between Hamas and Israel after the eight days escalation last month.

The new construction material will be for the Palestinian sector, and this decision will allow private companies and individuals to import construction materials that were previously restricted and only embarked for internationally funded building projects.”

In fact, I was unable to find another news source, other than the Guardian, which reported Israel’s easing of restrictions on building materials, that didn’t accurately distinguish between construction materials for internationally sponsored Gaza building projects, which was already allowed, and the importing of such materials for the private sector.

While any reporter can, of course, make a mistake, the frequency of inaccurate or highly misleading claims about Israel (by reporters and commentators) at the Guardian does make you wonder if their editors engage in even the most rudimentary fact-checking before publishing such stories.

“Meanwhile, Israel is to allow construction materials to enter Gaza from next week for the first time since 2007. Despite easing its blockade of the enclave two and a half years ago, it has continued to ban the import of almost all construction materials, such as cement and steel, saying they could be used for military purposes.

Twenty truckloads of construction materials will be permitted to cross into Gaza from Sunday as part of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended last month’s conflict.”

This is exactly the problem.
I think you need to read what Adam wrote again.
The use of the word “almost” by Sherwood is at best misleading.

Sounds a bit ridiculous whining about the fact that the grauniad has not mentioned how the ban was on private companies only- as if that would make a difference to the people of Gaza? Collectivley punishing them for Hamas’s activities is inhumane and against international law – imagine if the UK had banned building materials being imported into Northern Island everytime the IRA set off a bomb in England?!